Stenogonum salsuginosum

Nutt.

Smooth Two-whorl Buckwheat

G4Apparently Secure (G4?) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136340
Element CodePDPGN0Q020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygonales
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusStenogonum
Synonyms
Eriogonum salsuginosum(Nutt.) Hook.
Other Common Names
salty buckwheat (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1991-07-03
Change Date1989-11-13
Edition Date1991-07-03
Edition AuthorsBroaddus, L.
Rank Reasons
Moderate to wide range, apparently common within range.
Range Extent Comments
NM (NW, 1 co.), UT (E), CO (W), AZ (rare), WY.
Occurrences Comments
33 sites noted in UT flora.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Smooth buckwheat is a small annual that often branches at the base. Its stems up to 15 cm high. The mainly basal leaves are 5-30 mm long are and spoon-shaped with a broad petiole, while the stem leaves may be sessile. The foliage is glabrous. The small yellow flowers have 6 lance-shaped perianth segments that are 1-3 mm long. Flowers are borne in a cup formed of 2 whorls of 3 tiny bracts each, or an involucre. The involucres are borne in an open, dichotomously-branched inflorescence located at the top of the stem. The seeds are ca. 2 mm long.

Diagnostic Characteristics

This species can be distinguished from other annual members of the genus by the involucre composed of 2 whorls of 3 bracts each. A hand lens is necessary for positive identification.

Habitat

Shadscale, mat-atriplex & pinyon-juniper communities (Welsh et al, 1987).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
WyomingS3Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
New MexicoS4Yes
MontanaS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Wyoming (1)
AreaForestAcres
0401019Ashley National Forest6,202
References (3)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2005. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 5. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales, Polygonales, and Plumbaginales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. vii + 656 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Lesica, P. and P. L. Achuff. 1992. Distribution of vascular plant species of special concern and limited distribution in the Pryor Mountain desert, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 105 pp.